The headquarters of an organisation, both the building and staff who work in it, has a key role to play in the way in which it operates and portrays its character. After presenting a brief history of the buildings the Association for Science Education (ASE) has occupied during its 50 year history, this article reflects on the role of ASE headquarters over those years in terms of the functions of headquarters, the working practices, the aspirations of the organisation, and, finally, its image and values. It argues that the relocation and setting up of a new headquarters requires each of these issues to be considered afresh. (Contains 5 figures.)